Bus driver charged after 10 dead in Hunter Valley crash granted bail

The Maitland man Brett Button was charged with 10 counts of dangerous driving and negligent driving.

His bail is set at $10,000 with conditions including a curfew and a ban on alcohol and drug use.

Police have suspended Mr Button's license and he is expected to check in with police throughout the week.

Emergency services were called to Wine Country Dve near Greta about 11.30pm on June 11 after reports a coach transporting 36 people from a wedding had rolled.

At 2pm on June 12 there were 15 patients remaining in four different hospitals - one person was in a critical but stable condition. Six people have been discharged since the morning.

NSW Acting Assistant Commissioner Tracy Chapman told reporters the wedding guests were on the way to Singleton, presumably to their accommodation.

She said the bus driver was taken to hospital for mandatory testing and was assisting police with their enquiries.

Assistant Commissioner Chapman said it was too early to discuss the cause of the crash.

The crash site is now a crime scene with specialist investigators examining precisely what caused the catastrophic incident.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said the cause might not be known for some time.

"The most complex part of the job ahead of police now is actually accounting for the victims and passengers on the bus," she said.

"You can imagine the scene that was confronting police when they attended," she said.

NSW Premier Chris Minns spoke from the scene after midday and said resources would be made available to the community to deal with the shock and trauma.

"The next few days and next few weeks may be worse than the initial shock as it fully comes to the realisation of what this community has gone through," he said.

"This has been a terrible, terrible event in the history of New South Wales."

Assistant Commissioner Chapman said the NSW Police have an "understanding" of the number of people who are unaccounted for".

"We're working towards positively identifying those 10 deceased with the help of family members," she said.

Family and friends of anyone who may have been on board the bus are being urged to contact Cessnock Police Station on 02 4991 0199.

Any witnesses to the crash or with information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000

Mitchell Gaffney and Madeleine Edsell have been named as the couple who tied the knot at Wandin Estate in Lovedale on June 11.

The newlyweds are part of the Singleton Roosters AFL Club and many members of the local sporting community had attended the wedding.

Singleton mayor Sue Moore said the close-knit communities of Singleton and Cessnock had been rocked.

"This is an absolute tragedy," she said.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families, friends, first responders, everyone that's been affected by this and it will go on for weeks and months to try and to heal from this."

Wandin Estate's general manager Leona Emeny told ACM that staff were completely devastated by the news.

She said the family and friends involved in the wedding were "the most beautiful people."

"We are deeply saddened to hear of the bus crash overnight that has claimed the lives of some of our guests," she said.

"Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of the victims and we are supporting them in any way we can.

"At this time, we are providing support to those guests who need our help and we wish to maintain their privacy and won't be making any further statements at this time."

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The president of Warrandyte Cricket Club in Victoria has told the Sydney Morning Herald nine of the injured are members of the club.

Royce Jaksic said they had received "some minor injuries - a broken jaw, a broken collarbone, things like that".

The groom Mitchell Gaffney had previously played for the club and about 13 or 14 people had travelled to attend the wedding from Warrandyte.

Bus company Linq Buslines confirmed in a statement that one of its coaches was involved.

"We are incredibly saddened to learn of the bus crash that has occurred overnight," the company said.

"Trauma counselling services have been made available to all staff and their families at Linq Buslines.

"We are working with NSW Police and authorities as they investigate. It would be inappropriate for us to comment further while the investigation is underway."

AFL NSW/ACT has offered condolences to those affected by the incident, including those connected to the Singleton Roosters.

"The AFL will offer wellbeing support services for any person in our Australian football community who needs them following this tragedy," it said in a statement.

A wedding guest told channel 7 it had been a fairytale wedding, speaking before the number of fatalities had been made public.

"Yeah, it was nice day. Pretty good wedding, fairytale stuff. We went out to get drunk and then we got the news that there had been a crash and we all started panicking."

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has expressed his "deepest sympathies to the loved ones".

"For a joyous day like that in a beautiful place to end with such terrible loss of life and injury is so cruel and so sad," he said.

"People hire a bus for weddings in order to keep their guests safe and that just adds to the unimaginable nature of this tragedy.

"All Australians' thoughts go out to the family, friends and loved ones of those we have lost in such horrific circumstances.

"And to all those 25 in hospital... we're thinking of you and sending our best wishes for a recovery."

Cessnock Mayor Jay Suvaal said the incident was "truly devastating".

"My initial reaction was one of concern without knowing all the details and as more information filtered through the enormity of the event came to light," he said.

"I am shocked and my thoughts go out to the friends and families of those involved in the crash.

"I have to extend great thanks to the first responders at the scene."

Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison shared her thoughts on the tragedy on social media on Monday.

"I extend my deepest condolences to the family, friends and loved ones involved in the tragedy in the Hunter overnight.

"A large-scale emergency response commenced involving officers from Hunter Valley Police District, Police Rescue, Traffic and Highway Patrol, NSW Ambulance paramedics, NSW Fire and Rescue, NSW Rural Fire Service, Transport for NSW and various helicopters for hospital transports.

"Thank you to all who have responded to this incident in tragic circumstances."

Leader of the opposition Peter Dutton also thanked emergency service workers.

"As Australians awake to the horrific news of the bus crash in the Hunter Valley, our hopes are with those injured and our hearts break for the families and friends who have lost loved ones last night. A terrible tragedy after the joy of a wedding."